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Rail route idea gets Snohomish's interest

The City Council will discuss a plan for a commuter route to Bellevue

By Yoshiaki Nohara
Herald Writer

SNOHOMISH -- The idea to start commuter train service between Snohomish and Bellevue has piqued interest among residents. Tonight, the City Council is set to hold a workshop on the plan.

"We want to be a part of this," city manager Larry Bauman said Monday.

Bruce Agnew from the Discovery Institute's Cascadia Center for Regional Development, a regional think tank, is scheduled to make a presentation about what it takes to run commuter trains between Snohomish and King County and how people could benefit from the project.

A representative from GNP Railway is expected to attend the workshop as well, Bauman said. The company is proposing six morning commuter trips from Snohomish to Bellevue and six afternoon return trips on weekdays.

Many Snohomish residents commute on congested Highway 9 and could benefit from commuter trains, Bauman said.

The city has many questions about the project, Bauman said. The biggest question is whether commuter trains would come into the city limits.

"That's going to mean a lot of analysis for traffic and land-use issues," Bauman said.

Commuter trains have been proposed for a portion of the tracks that run 42 miles from Snohomish to Renton. The Port of Seattle is trying to buy the tracks for $103 million from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. The port has yet to decide how to use them.

Cargo trains now run on the tracks slowly. Some residents along the route said that they are concerned that commuter trains would bring more noise and lower their property values.


Get involved

The Snohomish City Council plans to hold a workshop on a proposed Snohomish-Bellevue commuter train at 6 p.m. today in the George Gilbertson Boardroom, 1601 Ave. D, Snohomish. More info: 360-568-3115.


Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.